Auroville

City of Dawn

Founded in 1968 by a Frenchwoman known locally as "The Mother," Auroville represented a kind of anarchist social experiment, where spirituality and communal living were supposed to override the importance of money. Thousands of foreigners flocked to the town, hoping to live a simple, self-sustaining life away from the rigors of society. Decades later the town remains a contradiction, relying on funding from the Indian government and donations from visitors to survive. Nevertheless, the community functions largely on renewable energy and offers a range of innovative, free public services. Spiraling out from a central golden orb known as "Matrimandir," the town's streets feature an ever-growing number of futuristic buildings, adding an extra layer of architectural interest to an Auroville itinerary. Auroville is in Viluppuram District. To arrange what you want to do in Auroville, use our India tour itinerary planner .